According to a just-released report by Cruise Lines International (CLIA), the North American cruise industry generated $35.7 billion in gross U.S. economic output in 2006, including $17.6 billion in direct spending. The report also states that the industry supported 348,000 American jobs last year, accounting for $14.7 billion in wages and overall cruise industry spending grew by a total of 10 percent and impacted all 50 U.S. states.

According to CLIA, 12 million people worldwide cruised last year, a 7 percent increase over 2005. U.S. residents accounted for 78 percent of the industry’s total passengers. CLIA counts a fleet of 151 vessels with a combined capacity of 249,691 lower berths.

In the U.S., direct purchases by the cruise lines for such goods and services as food, fuel and equipment plus spending by passengers and crew totaled $17.6 billion. Adding indirect economic impacts, such as transportation services and utilities, the total economic impact generated was $35.7 billion. The cruise industry touched every state, with 79 percent of direct purchases and 83 percent of total employment and income concentrated in 10 states: Florida, California, Texas, Alaska, New York, Hawaii, Georgia, Washington, Illinois and Massachusetts.

Embarkations at U.S. ports increased by more than 4 percent, totaling 9 million, and accounted for 75 percent of total global embarkations. The top 10 U.S. ports by embarkations were Miami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Galveston, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa, Long Beach, Seattle and Honolulu.